JPH1020227A - Cylinder inside surface scanning type image recorder and deflector unit usable in the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cylinder inside surface scanning type image recorder capable of obtaining an image having good image quality with a simple constitution without image rotation, and capable of performing stable scanning. SOLUTION: A deflecting element 61 is provided with a reflecting layer 612 so that the layer 612 vertically runs through a transparent cylindrical member 611 made of glass, and as to the layer 612, one surface including a center axis CA is a reflecting surface 612R. Three light beams LB radiated by a light beam radiation part are respectively made incident on the outside peripheral surface of the member 611, then made incident in a direction crossing with the axis CA, reflected to outgo from the outside peripheral surface of the member 611 again. The element 61 performs image-scanning on a photosensitive material attached to the inside surface of the cylinder of a drum by the reflected three light beam LB while the element 61 rotates centering the center axis CA, advances and moves in parallel.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus which records an image by scanning a recording medium such as a photosensitive material mounted on the inner surface of a cylindrical drum with a plurality of light beams.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus, an attempt has been made to improve the recording speed of an image by scanning with a plurality of light beams, as compared with the case of using one light beam. ing.

However, in a cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus, when a plurality of beams are incident on a rotating deflector and are deflected, a main beam spot of a plurality of beam points irradiated on a recording medium surface provided inside the cylinder is obtained. The angle to the scanning direction is
A problem arises in that it changes with the rotation of the deflector. Hereinafter, this problem is referred to as multiple beam point sequence rotation.

As a method for preventing rotation of a plurality of beam point arrays, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. Hei 5-5846 and Hei 5-2 are known.
A technique described in Japanese Patent No. 7190 is known.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a cross section of a light beam scanning device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-5846.

A recording medium is set inside the drum 901. A light beam is scanned on the recording medium. Lens 9
04, the lens 905 is designed according to the target value of the imaging performance of the light beam. The motor 906 rotates the tilt mirror 902. The rotation axis of the motor 906 coincides with the center axis of the drum 901. The rotation of the tilt mirror 902 deflects a plurality of light beams from the light source, and scans the recording medium. Here, according to the rotation of the tilt mirror 902, the plural beam point arrays on the recording surface rotate as described above. Therefore, in order to compensate for this, the trapezoidal prism 903 is replaced with a half of the tilt mirror 902. Rotate at the rotation speed of. In this case, the rotation of the trapezoidal prism 903 causes the positional relationship of the plurality of beams to rotate with respect to the rotation axis so as to compensate for the rotation of the plurality of beam points before entering the inclined mirror 902. The problem of rotation is avoided.

[0007]

Incidentally, in the above-described inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus, a trapezoidal prism 903 is required as a member for compensating the rotation of a plurality of beam point arrays.

In addition, it is difficult to rotate the trapezoidal prism 903 synchronously at half the rotation speed of the tilt mirror 902 in order to prevent the rotation of the beam point array as described above.

Further, the trapezoidal prism and the tilt mirror 90
No. 2 has an asymmetric shape with respect to the rotation axis, and has a problem of rotation instability and air resistance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus capable of performing stable scanning without rotating a plurality of beam point arrays with a simple configuration.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for recording an image by scanning a recording medium mounted on an inner surface of a cylindrical drum with a plurality of light beams. (A) light beam irradiation means for irradiating the light beam in a direction in which each of the plurality of light beams intersects the central axis of the cylindrical drum, (b) a reflection member A deflecting element composed of a support member that surrounds and supports the reflective member, (C)
A rotation drive unit for rotating the deflection element, wherein the rotation drive unit and the support member are connected so that at least one surface of the reflection member is along a rotation axis of the rotation drive unit, and a rotation of the rotation drive unit is provided. The rotation driving means is arranged such that an axis coincides with a central axis of the cylindrical drum,
By rotating the deflecting element, the light beam is deflected on the surface and applied to the recording medium. In the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, all of the plurality of light beams are reflected and deflected near the central axis of the cylindrical drum, so that the problem of the rotation of the plurality of beam point arrays is avoided. Further, it is technically difficult to connect the rotation driving means to the reflection member itself such that at least one surface of the reflection member is along the rotation axis of the rotation driving means.
If the rotation drive means is connected to a support member that surrounds and supports the reflection member as in the device of (1), it is easy to make at least one surface of the reflection member along the rotation axis of the rotation drive means. Is achieved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image recording apparatus of the first aspect, wherein at least a part of the supporting member is transparent, and the deflecting element has a cylindrical shape. It is characterized by being. Since the deflecting element has a cylindrical shape, it is rotated in a well-balanced manner with a low air resistance.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a deflector unit used for deflecting a plurality of light beams, comprising: (a) a reflecting member; and a support for surrounding and supporting the reflecting member. A deflecting element comprising: a rotating member for rotating the deflecting element; and (b) the rotary driving means such that at least one surface of the reflecting member is along a rotation axis of the rotary driving means. And the support member are connected,
At least a part of the support member is transparent, and the deflection element has a cylindrical shape.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the deflector unit according to the third aspect, wherein the reflecting member is a thin light reflecting layer.

In the first and third aspects, "along the rotation axis" means a state in which the rotation axis is in the same plane as the rotation axis and a state in which the rotation axis is in the vicinity of the rotation axis. .

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0017]

[1. FIG. 1 is a side view of a cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1. In figures other than the figures showing the following timing charts, a three-dimensional coordinate system XYZ is defined. Hereinafter, the cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

A cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 includes a base 1
0, holding plates 20a and 20b, ball screw 30, sub-scanning motor 40, guide 50, deflector 60, light beam irradiation unit 7
It consists of zero. In this apparatus, the three light beams LB irradiated from the light beam irradiation unit 70 are deflected by a deflector to focus on the surface of the photosensitive material FM mounted on the cylindrical inner surface 10a to perform multi-beam scanning. An image is recorded.

Hereinafter, the mechanical structure of each part will be described.

The base 10 has a semi-cylindrical cylindrical inner surface 10a, and a photosensitive material FM is mounted on the cylindrical inner surface 10a. Rails 11a and 11b are provided on the upper surfaces 10b and 10c of the base 10 in the X-axis direction, respectively.

Each of the holding plates 20a and 20b is
Are provided on the positive and negative end surfaces of the X-axis, and hold the ball screw 30 around the axis.

The ball screw 30 is held through the holding plate 20b, and is connected to a sub-scanning motor 40 provided on the surface of the holding plate 20b on the positive side of the X axis.

The sub-scanning motor 40 is a stepping motor and is connected to a control unit (not shown). Then, the ball screw 3 rotates intermittently under the control of the control unit.
Rotate 0.

The guide 50 includes a holding plate 20a and a holding plate 20b.
And two rollers 51a and 51b provided at both ends of the Y-axis, respectively, as shown in FIG.
It is supported in a state fitted to the 0 rails 11a and 11b. The rotation of the ball screw 30 enables the X-axis to move in the positive and negative directions.

The deflector unit 60 is provided on the guide 50 and comprises a deflecting element 61, which will be described in detail later, and a main scanning motor 62 connected thereto. The main scanning motor 62 is connected to the control unit, and rotates the deflection element 61 by rotating according to the control.

The light beam irradiating section 70 is provided at the end on the positive side of the Y-axis of the guide 50 in the same horizontal plane as the central axis of the cylindrical inner surface 10a of the drum 10. FIG. 3 shows a light beam irradiation unit 7.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal structure of a light beam 0 and optical paths of three light beams LB. The light beam irradiation unit 70 includes a light source unit 71 therein as shown in FIG. 3, and the three light beams LB emitted therefrom are condensed by the three lenses 72 while the deflecting element 61 is conveyed. Through photosensitive material FM
Irradiated on the surface.

Hereinafter, the main part and image scanning will be described in detail.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the deflection element 61 in the cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1. FIG. 5 is a side view of the deflecting element 61 in the cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1. Hereinafter, the configuration of the deflection element 61 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The deflecting element 61 has a reflective layer 612 contained in the cylindrical member 611 so as to traverse the cylindrical member 611 made of transparent glass. The reflection layer 612 has a central axis C
One surface including A is a reflection surface 612R on which silver is deposited, and can reflect the light beam LB. That is, a pair of semi-cylindrical members obtained by bisecting the cylindrical member 611 by a plane passing through the central axis CA are bonded to both the front and back surfaces of the reflective layer 612.
The back surface 6 which is the other surface of the reflection surface 612R of the reflection layer
12B does not reflect the light beam LB. The deflection element 61 is provided such that its central axis CA coincides with the central axis of the cylindrical inner surface 10 a of the base 10 and the rotation axis of the deflection element 61. Then, after the three light beams LB radiated in parallel to each other by the light beam irradiating unit 70 enter the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 611, as shown in FIG. 3, the reflecting surface 612R is perpendicular to the central axis CA. The relative position between the light beam irradiation unit 70 and the deflector unit 60 is adjusted so that the light beam is incident near the upper central axis CA and then reflected again to exit from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 611.

The deflection element 61 performs main scanning by deflecting three light beams LB on the reflection surface 612R while being rotated by the main scanning motor 62 as described above.

As described above, the light beam irradiation unit 70
When the deflector unit 60 is assembled, the light beam LB emitted from the light beam irradiator 70 always reflects the central axis of the cylindrical inner surface 10a and the reflection surface near the rotation axis of the deflection element 61 regardless of the rotation state of the deflection element 61. The light is reflected and deflected at 612R. If the deflection element 61 is not provided with the cylindrical member 611, the reflecting surface 612R and the cylindrical inner surface 10a
Deflecting element 61 and main scanning motor 62 while satisfying the above-described relationship between the central axis of
It is very difficult to connect with. This is because, when the rotating shaft (not shown) of the main scanning motor 62 has a finite diameter and is connected to the reflecting layer 612, the reflecting layer 612 requires a considerable thickness and the above relationship is not satisfied. is there. From the above, the cylindrical member 611
Is the deflection element 6 in addition to supporting the reflective layer 612.
It can be seen that it has a function of facilitating the connection between the main scanning motor 1 and the main scanning motor 62.

The sub-scanning operation is performed by the intermittent rotation of the sub-scanning motor 40 and the movement of the deflector 60 in the X-axis direction together with the guide 50 through the rotation of the ball screw 30.

Image scanning is performed on the photosensitive material FM mounted on the cylindrical inner surface 10a by the main scanning and the sub-scanning as described above.

Next, an image scanning procedure of the cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 6 is a timing chart of irradiation of three light beams LB. This corresponds to an angle of 45 ° from the central axis of the cylindrical inner surface 10a as shown in FIG.
The timing control of the irradiation of the three light beams LB will be described by taking as an example a case where the photosensitive material FM is mounted in the 135 ° region.

The horizontal axis represents the angle θ of the reflecting surface 612R. Note that, as shown in FIG. 5, a state in which the reflective layer 612 is parallel to the XZ plane and the reflective surface 612R faces the positive direction of the Y axis is represented as a reference (θ = 0 °). The vertical axis represents three light beams L by the light beam irradiation unit 70.
The state where B is irradiated is represented as ON, and the state where B is not irradiated is represented as OFF. Note that each of the three light beams LB irradiated in the ON state is modulated according to an image signal. The same applies to the following embodiments. As can be seen from FIG. 6, the three light beams L are provided only when the deflection element 61 has the rotation angle θ of 45 ° to 135 °.
B is irradiated. While the other rotation angles θ are between 0 ° and 45 ° and between 135 ° and 360 °, the three light beams LB are not irradiated. This is because the reflecting surface 612R makes the drum 10
In the range where the photosensitive material FM does not exist on the inner surface 10a of
The three light beams LB are not irradiated while the position where the light beams LB are reflected or the back surface 612B side of the reflection layer 612 faces the light beam irradiation unit 70 side.

The main scanning is performed three lines while the three light beams LB are turned on and off once each while the deflection element 61 rotates 360 °. The rotation of 40 moves the guide 50 and the associated deflector 60 by three lines in the X-axis direction. The sub-scanning operation is driven by the rotation of the sub-scanning motor 40. As described above, the sub-scanning motor 40 is a stepping motor that rotates intermittently, and rotates only while the three light beams LB are irradiated. Then, the rotation is stopped while the three light beams LB are not irradiated. Thus, the movement of the guide 50 and the deflector 60 in the X-axis direction is performed in synchronization with the main scanning.

As described above, in the cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, the light beam LB is always supplied to the center axis of the cylindrical inner surface 10a and the light beam LB irrespective of the rotation state of the deflection element 61. Since the beam is reflected and deflected by the reflection surface 612R near the rotation axis of the deflecting element 61, a plurality of beam point array rotations do not occur.

The three light beams LB are reflected by the reflecting surface 612.
Since the light beam LB is incident almost perpendicularly to the central axis CA when incident on R, the cross-sectional intensity distribution of the light beam LB does not deform on the photosensitive material FM. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a mechanism for preventing the deformation. And good image scanning can be performed with a simple configuration.

Further, since the light beam LB is reflected near the central axis CA and the deflecting element 61 has a columnar shape centered on the central axis CA, the light beam LB is incident on and emitted from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 611. Since the beam is perpendicular to the outer peripheral surface, the beam is not refracted after incidence and emission, and the position of the beam on the photosensitive material FM can be easily controlled.

The main scanning can be performed by rotating the deflecting element 61. Therefore, unlike the configuration in which scanning is performed by oscillating like a galvanometer, the scanning speed is not changed in principle, and the deflection is not changed. Element 6
By rotating 1 at high speed, scanning can be performed at high speed.

Further, since the light beam LB is configured to be reflected near the central axis of the cylindrical inner surface 10a on the reflecting surface 612R, the main scanning speed can be kept constant in all the scanning regions.

Further, since the deflection element 61 is substantially rotationally symmetric with respect to the central axis CA, the central axis CA substantially passes through the center of gravity of the deflector, so that rotation unevenness hardly occurs. Because of the columnar shape, the air resistance is uniform, so that the rotation speed is stable, so that more stable scanning can be performed.

[0043]

[2. Second Embodiment FIGS. 7 and 8 show a deflection element 61 of a cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 according to a second embodiment.
FIG. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the deflection element 61 of FIG. 7 has been rotated by 180 °. Hereinafter, the cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
Will be described. The apparatus according to the second embodiment has almost the same mechanical configuration as the apparatus according to the first embodiment, but differs only in the configuration of the deflection element 61. That is, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG.
The center axis CA of the deflecting element 61 is located at the center of the mirror 2 and both surfaces of the reflective layer 612 are reflective surfaces 612Ra, 61Ra.
It is 2Rb. Here, as in the first embodiment, the deflecting element 61 is installed such that the central axis CA of the deflecting element 61 coincides with the rotation axis of the deflecting element 61 and the central axis of the cylindrical inner surface 10a. Then, the three light beams LB incident on the cylindrical member 611 are reflected at positions closest to the respective central axes CA of the reflecting surfaces 612Ra and 612Rb, and emerge from the cylindrical member 611 again. Therefore, since the deflection element 61 has such a configuration, the reflection surface 612Ra
And 612Rb, respectively.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart of light beam irradiation according to the second embodiment. The rotation angle θ is substantially the same as that used in FIG. 6, and as shown in FIG. 7, the reflection layer 612 is parallel to the XZ plane,
12Ra is oriented in the positive direction of the Y-axis (θ = 0
゜), and the vertical axis represents 3 by the light beam irradiation unit 70.
The state where the light beam LB is irradiated is set to ON,
Conversely, a state where no light is irradiated is represented as OFF.

As can be seen from FIG.
The three light beams LB are irradiated during the rotation positions of {135} and 225-315 °, and are not irradiated during the other periods. As a result, the rotation angle θ of the deflection element 61
Surface 612R during the period when the angle is 45 ° to 135 °
The main scanning is performed by the three light beams LB reflected by a, and the main scanning is performed by the three light beams LB reflected by the reflecting surface 612Rb during a period in which the deflection element 61 is at a rotation position of 225 ° to 315 °. The rotation of the sub-scanning motor 40 is also performed intermittently at the timing shown in FIG. 9 so that the sub-scanning is performed in synchronization with the main scanning.

As described above, the cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 of the second embodiment has the reflecting surfaces 6 on both surfaces of the reflecting layer 612.
12Ra and 612Rb, which can be scanned by reflecting the light beam LB on both surfaces thereof, so that scanning is performed at twice the speed as compared with the cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. be able to.

Further, the center of the reflection layer 612 is
And the rotation axis of the deflecting element 61, the rotational speed of the deflecting element 61 is symmetrical with respect to the central axis CA, so that the rotational speed is stabilized, and thereby the scanning speed is stabilized.

[0048]

[3. Third Embodiment FIG. 10 is a side view of a cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 according to a third embodiment. Also,
FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1. Hereinafter, this apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

As shown, the cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 has the same components as the cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. However, this device is different from the device of the first embodiment in the following points.

The cylindrical inner surface 10a of the base 10 is 3/4 of the entire circumference.
It is provided with a portion corresponding to the degree, so that a photosensitive material FM larger than the device of the first embodiment can be mounted.

The guide 50 has two columns 53a, 53 under the main body 52 supported by being screwed to the ball screw 30.
b is provided. The column 53a is provided with a deflector unit 60, and the central axis CA of the deflecting element 61 is
Are provided so as to coincide with the central axis of the cylindrical inner surface 10a and the rotation axis of the deflecting element 61, and the light beam irradiating section 70 directs the irradiation direction of the three light beams LB to the deflecting element 61 on the column 53b. It is provided as follows. Note that one surface of the reflective layer 612 of the deflecting element 61 is a reflective surface 612R in the same manner as that shown in FIGS.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the light beam irradiation section and the optical path of the light beam. 3 as shown
Each of the light beams LB is a central axis C of the deflecting element 61.
A is incident obliquely to A and the central axis C on the reflecting surface 612R.
The relative position between the deflection element 61 and the light beam irradiation unit 70 is set so as to be reflected near A.

The light beam irradiating section 70 is provided with a light source 71 and a lens 72 in the same manner as the apparatus of the first embodiment, but the light beam irradiating section 70 of the apparatus of the third embodiment has A cylindrical lens 73 is provided between the light source 71 and the lens 72 on each optical path of the three light beams LB. This is because three light beams LB are reflected on the reflecting surface 6.
12R obliquely incident on the inner surface 10a of the cylinder.
This is an example of a means for preventing the cross-sectional intensity distribution of the three light beams LB from becoming elliptical on the surface of the photosensitive material FM attached to the image forming apparatus.

In the apparatus according to the first embodiment, when the reflecting surface 612R of the deflecting element 61 faces the light beam irradiation unit 70, three light beams LB are applied to the light beam irradiation unit 70.
, The scannable range is limited. However, in the device according to the third embodiment, since three light beams LB are obliquely incident on the reflecting surface 612R, the reflecting surface Even when 612R faces the light beam irradiation unit 70, the three light beams LB do not pass through the position of the light beam irradiation unit 70, so that the scannable range becomes large, and an image is recorded on a larger photosensitive material FM. It can be performed.
The period for irradiating the three light beams LB and the period for driving the sub-scanning motor 40 for sub-scanning are set according to the scanning range.

The other structure is the same as that of the cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 of the first embodiment.

[0056]

[4. Fourth Embodiment Next, a cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 according to a fourth embodiment will be described. The device according to the fourth embodiment has almost the same mechanical configuration as the device according to the third embodiment, but only the configuration of the deflecting element 61 is configured like the device according to the second embodiment. . That is, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the central axis CA is located at the center of the reflective layer 612, and both surfaces of the reflective layer 612 are reflective surfaces 612Ra and 612Rb. Then, the three light beams LB incident on the cylindrical member 611 are reflected at positions closest to the respective central axes CA of the reflecting surfaces 612Ra and 612Rb, and emerge from the cylindrical member 611 again. Therefore, since the deflection element 61 has such a configuration, the reflection surfaces 612Ra and 61
Since scanning can be performed by three light beams LB reflected by each of 2Rb, scanning can be performed at twice the speed of the apparatus of the third embodiment.

The timing of irradiating the three light beams LB and the timing of driving the sub-scanning motor 40 for sub-scanning are substantially the same as those in the second embodiment. Also,
Other configurations are the same as those of the third embodiment.

[0058]

[5. Fifth Embodiment Next, a cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 according to a fifth embodiment will be described. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 according to a fifth embodiment. In this embodiment, light beam irradiation units 70a and 70b are provided on both sides of the deflection element 61 as shown. The deflecting element 61 is the same as that of the device of the second embodiment, and both surfaces of the reflective layer 612 have reflective surfaces 612Ra and 612Ra as shown in FIG.
Rb. The central axis CA of the deflection element 61
The other mechanical configuration is the same as that of the device of the first embodiment, for example, three light beams LB are vertically incident on the device.

By using the two light beam irradiators provided in this manner, a scanning area corresponding to a larger central angle can be obtained, and each of the two photosensitive materials FM is irradiated with the light beam irradiator 70a and the light beam. Each of the beam irradiating sections 70b scans one sheet of the photosensitive material FM.
Can be shared and scanned by the light beam irradiation unit 70a and the light beam irradiation unit 70b. Hereinafter, the operation procedure in the latter case will be described. FIG. 14 and FIG.
FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram of the cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 16 is a timing chart of light beam irradiation and sub-scanning in the fifth embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation procedure will be described with reference to these drawings. In the following, the rotation angle θ has the same definition as that used in the description of FIG.

First, as shown in FIG. 14A, while the rotation angle θ of the deflecting element 61 is between 0 ° and 5 °, the light beam irradiating section 70 is
Neither a nor 70b irradiates three light beams LB.

Next, as shown in FIG. 14B, at the timing when the rotation angle θ becomes 5 °, the light beam irradiation unit 70a
Starts irradiation of the three light beams LB, and continues irradiation of the three light beams LB during the rotation angle θ of 5 ° to 45 ° as shown in FIG. When the rotation angle θ becomes 45 °, the irradiation of the three light beams LB of the light beam irradiation unit 70a is stopped as shown in FIG. During this time, the light beam irradiation unit 70b stops irradiation of the three light beams LB.

Next, as shown in FIG. 14E, while the rotation angle θ is between 45 ° and 135 °, both of the light beam irradiation units 70a and 70b stop irradiation of the three light beams LB. I have. Then, when the rotation angle θ becomes 135 ° as shown in FIG. 14F, the light beam irradiation unit 70b starts irradiation of the three light beams LB, and rotates as shown in FIG. While the angle θ is in the range of 135 ° to 175 °, the three light beams LB are continuously irradiated. When the rotation angle θ becomes 175 ° as shown in FIG.
0b stops irradiation of the three light beams LB. During this time, the light beam irradiation unit 70a stops irradiation of the three light beams LB.

Next, as shown in FIG. 14 (i), when the rotation angle θ is between 175 ° and 185 °, the light beam irradiation section 70a
Both and 70b continue to stop. And FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5 (j), when the rotation angle θ becomes 185 °, the light beam irradiating unit 70a returns to the three light beams L.
15B, the irradiation of the three light beams LB is continued while the rotation angle θ is 185 ° to 225 ° as shown in FIG. 15K, and the rotation angle is changed as shown in FIG. θ is 22
When the angle reaches 5 °, the irradiation of the three light beams LB is stopped. During this time, the light beam irradiation unit 70b stops irradiation of the three light beams LB.

Next, as shown in FIG. 15 (m), when the rotation angle θ is between 225 ° and 315 °, the light beam irradiation section 70a
Both and 70b continue to stop. And FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5 (n), when the rotation angle θ becomes 315 °, the light beam irradiating unit 70b again outputs the three light beams L.
B, the irradiation of three light beams LB is continued while the rotation angle θ is 315 ° to 355 ° as shown in FIG. 15 (o), and the rotation angle is changed as shown in FIG. θ is 35
When the angle reaches 5 °, the irradiation of the three light beams LB is stopped. During this time, the light beam irradiation unit 70a stops irradiation of the three light beams LB.

Then, as shown in FIG. 15 (q), both of the light beam irradiation units 70a and 70b continue to stop until the rotation angle θ becomes 360 °, and the operation from FIG. 14 (a) is repeated again. To go.

The light beam irradiators 70a and 70b perform main scanning while operating according to the above-described operation procedure. The accompanying sub-scanning operation is performed in the same manner as in the apparatus of the first embodiment. The deflector 60 moves in the X-axis direction together with the guide 50 through the rotation of the ball screw 30 due to the intermittent rotation of the motor 40. FIG. 16 is a timing chart of the irradiation of three light beams LB and the operation of the sub-scanning motor 40 in the fifth embodiment.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are timing charts of irradiation of three light beams LB by the light beam irradiation units 70a and 70b, respectively. FIG. 16C is a timing chart of the operation of the sub-scanning motor 40.
As shown in the drawing, the sub-scanning motor 40 is in a period in which either the light beam irradiation unit 70a or the light beam irradiation unit 70b irradiates three light beams LB in synchronization with the main scanning, that is,
The deflection element 61 has a rotation angle θ of 5 ° to 45 °, 135 ° to
175 °, 185 ° -225 ° and 315 ° -355
It rotates only during ゜.

As described above, since the cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 of the fifth embodiment has the above-described configuration, scanning is performed within the range of the outer peripheral surface corresponding to a larger central angle. It can be carried out. In FIG. 13, the cylindrical inner surface 10a of the drum 10 is made a cylinder corresponding to a larger central angle, and the light beam irradiators 70a and 70b are provided at a higher position of the guide 50, so that the central angle becomes closer to 360 ° in principle. It is also possible to scan the corresponding area.

[0069]

[6. Sixth Embodiment In the first to fifth embodiments, multi-channel light beam LB is achieved in the axial direction of cylindrical inner surface 10a. According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve multi-channel light beam LB in the circumferential direction of cylindrical inner surface 10a. That is, the light beam LB used for scanning can be made into a two-dimensional multi-channel. Moreover, as in the first to fifth embodiments, rotation of a plurality of beam point arrays, which is a problem in forming a scanning beam multi-channel in a cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus, does not occur.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 according to the sixth embodiment. The apparatus according to the sixth embodiment has almost the same mechanical configuration as that of the first embodiment, except that a plurality of light beams L
Only the arrangement of B is different.

In the first embodiment, the multiple light beams LB are multi-channeled in the X-axis direction.
In the sixth embodiment, the plurality of light beams LB are multi-channeled not only in the X-axis direction but also in the circumferential direction.
Here, the plurality of light beams LB are reflected near the central axis CA of the deflection element 61. As a result, in the sixth embodiment, the first
As in the fifth embodiment, the rotation of the multiple beam point sequence does not occur.

[0072]

[7. Other Embodiments In the above, six types of cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatuses 1 have been described. In addition to the above, the following cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 may be used. it can.

That is, in the cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 of the fifth embodiment, the deflection element 61 having the reflection surface 612R on one side of the reflection layer 612 is provided, and three light beams are alternately received from the light beam irradiation units 70a and 70b. By irradiating the book with the light beam LB, it is possible to scan two photosensitive materials FM or scan one large photosensitive material FM.

Further, in the cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 1 of the third embodiment or the fourth embodiment, two light beam irradiation sections 70a and 70b are provided as in the apparatus of the fifth embodiment. In the apparatus having the configuration, by irradiating three light beams LB alternately from the light beam irradiation units 70a and 70b, two photosensitive materials FM can be scanned similarly to the apparatus of the fifth embodiment. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which one large photosensitive material FM is scanned.

[0075]

[8. Modification In each of the above embodiments, the cylindrical member 61 is used.
1 was a transparent member. Here, the transparent member refers to a member that allows most of the light beam LB to pass.

Although the cylindrical member 611 is made of transparent glass in each of the above embodiments, it may be made of a transparent resin or the like.

As described in the first embodiment, the role of the cylindrical member 611 is to support the reflective layer 612 and to facilitate the connection between the deflecting element 61 and the main scanning motor 62. That's what it means. In order to fulfill these roles, a part or the whole of the reflection layer may be supported by a member of a different shape instead of the cylindrical member 611. It is possible to configure the inner surface scanning type image recording device 1.

In each of the above embodiments, the reflecting surface 61 is used.
Although 2R, 612Ra and 612Rb are formed by depositing silver on the surface of the reflective layer 612, they may be formed by depositing aluminum on the surface.

When a pair of semi-cylindrical members having different refractive indices are joined to form a cylindrical member 611, light is reflected at the joint surface, and this may be used as the reflection surface 612R.

In each of the above embodiments, the entirety of the cylindrical member 611 is configured to be transparent. However, the reflecting surface 612R in the first and third embodiments is replaced by the reflecting layer 612.
In the case of a configuration provided on only one side of the cylindrical member 6,
Since the half of the 11 reflective layers 612 on the back surface 612B side does not need to transmit the light beam LB, it may be formed of a material having no light transmittance.

In the above embodiment, the reflection layer 612 is used.
The entire surface of the reflecting surfaces 612R, 612Ra and 612Rb of the above can be configured to reflect the light beam LB.
A configuration may be adopted in which only those portions of the surface near the central axis CA that reflect the light beam LB can be reflected, and the other portions are not reflected.

Further, in the first and third embodiments, the central axis CA of the deflecting element 61 passes through the reflecting surface 612R. However, when the reflecting layer 612 is formed sufficiently thin, the center of the reflecting layer 612 can be formed. May be configured to pass through.
In the second and fourth embodiments, the central axis CA of 61 passes through the center of the reflective layer 612.
When 2 is formed sufficiently thin, it may be configured to pass through the reflection surface 612Ra or 612Rb.

[0083]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, each of the plurality of light beams is irradiated in a direction intersecting with the central axis of the cylindrical drum, and these light beams are respectively applied to the central axis of the cylindrical drum and the deflection element. Since it is configured to be reflected and deflected by the surface of the reflection member of the deflection element near the rotation axis,
Image recording can be performed without rotating a plurality of beam point arrays on a recording medium. Conventionally, in a cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus using a plurality of light beams, a mechanism such as a synchronous rotating prism was required so as to prevent rotation of a plurality of beam point arrays, but in the present invention, the same effect can be obtained with a simple configuration. Achieved. Further, since the plurality of light beams are deflected on the center axis of the cylindrical drum, a constant main scanning speed can be obtained without any correction of the rotation speed of the deflecting element, and high-speed and stable image recording can be performed.

In the second aspect of the present invention, since the deflecting element has a cylindrical shape, the rotation balance when rotating the deflecting element is good, and the air friction can be suppressed to be small.

In the deflector unit according to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, since the deflecting element has a cylindrical shape, the rotation balance when rotating the deflecting element is good, and the air friction is suppressed to be small. Therefore, stable scanning can be performed using this.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an internal structure of a light beam irradiation unit and an optical path of the light beam according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the deflector according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the deflector according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart of light beam irradiation according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the deflector according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the deflector according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart of light beam irradiation according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an internal structure of a light beam irradiation unit and an optical path of a light beam according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a timing chart of light beam irradiation and operation of a sub-scanning motor according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional device.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus according to a sixth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus 10 Base 10a Cylindrical inner surface 60 Deflector unit 61 Deflection element 70, 70a, 70b Light beam irradiation part 611 Cylindrical member 612 Reflection layer 612B Back surface 612R, 612Ra, 612Rb Reflection surface CA Central axis FM photosensitive Material LB Light beam

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus for recording an image by scanning a recording medium mounted on an inner surface of a cylindrical drum with a plurality of light beams, wherein (a) each of the plurality of light beams is A light beam irradiating means for irradiating the light beam in a direction intersecting a central axis of the cylindrical drum; (b) a reflecting member; a deflecting element including a supporting member surrounding and supporting the reflecting member; A rotation drive unit for rotating the deflection element, wherein the rotation drive unit and the support member are connected so that at least one surface of the reflection member is along a rotation axis of the rotation drive unit, and a rotation axis of the rotation drive unit is provided. And the rotation driving means is arranged so that the central axis of the cylindrical drum coincides with the center axis of the cylindrical drum. By rotating the deflection element, the light beam is deflected on the surface and applied to the recording medium. Cylindrical inner surface scanning type image recording apparatus characterized. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the support member is transparent, and the deflection element has a cylindrical shape. 3. A deflector unit used for deflecting a plurality of light beams, comprising: (a) a deflecting element comprising: a reflecting member; and a supporting member that surrounds and supports the reflecting member. And a rotation drive unit for rotating the deflection element. The rotation drive unit and the support member are connected so that at least one surface of the reflection member is along a rotation axis of the rotation drive unit. A deflector unit, wherein at least a part of the member is transparent, and the deflection element has a cylindrical shape. 4. The deflector unit according to claim 3, wherein said reflection member is a thin light reflection layer.